Page 119 of Us Dark Few

“What comes alive in the shadow of the night?” the cryptic man asked.

Adan reeled back in confusion. “What?”

“What comes alive in the shadow of the night?” The masculine voice pitched lower.

“I…I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re not with Brock. I’m ending the line.”

“No, no!” She snatched the walkie out of Adan’s hands. “This is Khalani Kanes from Apollo. We need your help. The crops in Apollo are dying, and our leaders aren’t doing anything to stop it. They’ve already started killing people. We need the city of Hermes to help us, or we’re going to die,” she rasped, holding the walkie close to her mouth.

A lengthy silence crept through the narrow space like a knife waiting to strike. Even Takeshi leaned forward, waiting for an answer.

“If you’re not part of their government, how did you get this secure line from Brock?”

“We are being held as prisoners in Apollo, along with Brock. They confiscated all his belongings, but we managed to steal his walkie back. I’m telling you the truth. Please…you need to help us,” she begged.

The unknown man didn’t respond.

Khalani’s fingers trembled as she clung to the faintest thread of hope that their suffering hadn’t been in vain.

“I’m sorry. Hermes can’t help you,” the unknown voice stated.

“Did you not hear what I just said?”

“I heard you perfectly. But if what you say is true, Hermes will not send help. Not when the same thing is happening over here.”

Derek exchanged a wide-eyed glance with her. “What did you say?”

“The killing is not only in your city. Our leadership in Hermes has started placing our homeless and outcasts in work camps. And once you go in, there’s no coming out. So, if you’re looking for Hermes to send Apollo resources or manpower, you’re wasting your breath.”

Adan turned away in disgust, and Khalani’s shoulders hunched. They were too late. They would lose everything.

Everything.

“Butyoumight still make it.” The man’s voice crept through the static like oxygen.

She clutched the device tighter. “What do you mean?”

“There’s a resistance group within Hermes who may be able to help you. The Death-Zoner, Brock, was one of them, and he delivered needed supplies from Apollo. If you want to survive, you must travel to Hermes.”

The hard lines of Takeshi’s body went rigid next to her, his energy becoming more overpowering by the second, filling up the entire room with his presence, a silent predator waiting to pounce.

And by the looks of it, on her.

“We can’t escape,” she breathed into the walkie. “The radiation suits are locked away, and we wouldn’t know where to go.”

“If you can escape, Brock is your only way of survival. He can guide you to us, but you need to leave soon while the weather is still good. Contact me when you reach the Gateway Arch, and I will sneak you into Hermes. This is your only chance, so take it or die. Goodbye.” The line went dead.

They stood in complete and utter silence, staring at each other incredulously.

“Shit,” someone whispered.

“Do you believe him?” Khalani asked.

Adan frowned in disbelief. “He didn’t sound like he was lying.”

“What are the chances of Apollo and Hermes experiencing the same crop failure?”

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